March 04, 2025

Beyond the Summit: Climbing Mt. Everest, Filming at 29,000 Feet, a Cultural Journey through Nepal, and Taking Your Childhood Dreams to Heart with Alex Harz

1 hour 42 minutes

What does it take to turn a childhood dream into reality, even when it seems impossible?

Alex Harz is an adventurer, filmmaker, and storyteller who took his dream of climbing Mount Everest and turned it into a powerful multimedia project, The Quest: Everest. With a background in acting, business, and international travel, Alex combined his skills to document the Everest experience like never before, bringing audiences up the mountain with him through both a documentary film and an immersive VR experience. But his journey was about much more than just summiting Everest; it was about embracing challenge, cultural connection, and pushing human limits.

In this episode, Alex shares the incredible story behind his ascent of Mount Everest, providing an unfiltered look at what it takes to push beyond your limits and climb the world’s highest peak.

From his rigorous training and years of preparation to the emotional and spiritual impact of the journey, Alex talks about the intense preparation, the surreal beauty of the Himalayas, and the life-and-death decisions climbers face on the mountain. Beyond the climb itself, we dive into the deeper meaning of pursuing a lifelong dream and how the people of Nepal profoundly shaped his journey.

What is your “personal Everest?” I'd love to hear about it, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message.

Premium Passport:

Get ad-free episodes, exclusive content, and access to all episodes for only $3/month. Subscribe now!

Tune In To Learn:

The random moment that inspired Alex to embrace his childhood dream after 15 years

How he went from zero mountaineering experience to climbing the world’s tallest peak

The extreme training regimen required to prepare for Everest

What it’s like to experience Everest Base Camp’s international tent city

The spiritual side of Everest and how Nepalese culture shaped his journey

The life-or-death decisions climbers must make on the mountain

Why physical fitness alone won’t get you to the summit

The ethical questions surrounding Everest tourism and the role of Sherpas

How witnessing death on Everest changed his perspectives

The challenges of documenting a high-altitude expedition and bringing the story to life

The moment Alex stood at the top of the world and what it meant to him

And so much more

Resources:

Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport

Learn more and watch The Quest: Everest

Want More?

Everest Excellence with Ellen Miller

From Wall Street to Nepal, Life-Changing Moments, and What It Means To Have Enough With James C. Hopkins

Silence in the Age of Noise with Legendary Explorer Erling Kagge

Thanks To Our Sponsors

Defender - Explore the full lineup at landroverusa.com.

Unbound Merino - Use code ‘TRAVEL10’ to get 10% off your Unbound Merino order.

Saily - Go to saily.com/zerototravel and download the SAILY app - use the code ‘zerototravel’ at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase.

Booking.com - Book your next stay and find exactly what you’re looking for on booking.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

...more

View all episodes

By Jason Moore

4.6

794794 ratings